To-Do Tuesday

Here it is Tuesday, again!  I am amazed how fast every week flies by.  It especially seems true during the Summer.  Last week, I spent some time on two different days playing with the grandkids at the park.  They love being outside and playing together.  They've been spending more time together recently and becoming friends.

Here is my list from last week:

1.  Work on refinishing kitchen table.

2.  Finish binding stretched star baby quilt.

3.  Quilt 2-3 customer quilts.

How did I do:  Work on refinishing kitchen table.  Yep!  I'm actually only refinishing the table top, as it gets the most work.  I got two different layers of stripper on and cleaned off.  Two layers of mineral spirits on and cleaned off.  I am now in the sanding stage.  

Finish binding stretched star baby quilt.  Nope!  I usually like to do binding on Sunday evenings.  However, I started making masks for my children and their spouses, since more places are requiring them.  It's slow work and I don't enjoy it.  Other than the fact they are for my loved ones.  But, I am not disappointed in not accomplishing this one.  It gives me more to look forward to on Sunday again!

Quilt 2-3 customer quilts.  Yep!  I also quilted 4 small ones for me.  Some weeks are better for accomplishing quilting than others, so 3 customer quilts is a big win for me!

My goals for the week of July 28-August 3:

1.  Quilt as many customer quilts as possible (minimum of 3)

2.  Finish refinishing the table.

3.  Finish family masks

Linking to To Do Tuesday

To Do Thursday?

It's supposed to be To Do Tuesday, right?  Well, being as it was a busy week, I didn't get to this on Tuesday.  It has been a good week, though.

Mondays, I always work at the local quilt shop.  My day tends to vary, from cutting fabric, to making kits, to answering questions about Handi Quilter machines.  I love that it has a wide variety of tasks.  This week, I also worked on putting together a Capri with Insight Table for our store model.  It was fun!

Tuesdays, I have sewing group here at my home.  We have up to 6 people come over to sew, plus my granddaughter.  She keeps me and her mom hopping.  This time her granddad was home to play with her.

Wednesday, I taught a new machine owner how to do edge-to-edge quilting with her Pro-Stitcher.  When I got home, I got a call that my grandchildren needed sand toys at the local park.  So, I went to the park to play with them for a while.  It was so much fun and reminded me of the times I would take my own children to the park during the summer.  It made for a lot of fun for them, and some easier time for me.  I came home feeling so glad I took the time to meet them at the park!

So, here it is Thursday, and I'm finally getting a post done.  Here are last week's goals:

1.  Quilt as many customer quilts as possible.  Yes!  I quilted 6 quilts last week.
2.  Order Swarovski crystals.  Yes!  I even have received them by mail and started attaching them to a quilt.3.  Work on Summer Blossoms quilt.  Yes!  I cut all the pieces for the blossom blocks, organized them and started piecing.  I have 2 blocks done, out of 14.

Sunday evening, this was my work space.  Out on the patio, in the shade.  It was very pleasant to work outside on my binding, until it got too dark for my eyes to see.  Watching a show on my Kindle outside was a little difficult, too much reflection!  I still could listen, though.

And here are my two blossom blocks.

Goals for this week: 

1.  Work on refinishing kitchen table.
2.  Finish binding stretched star baby quilt.
3.  Quilt 2-3 customer quilts.

Linking to To Do Tuesday

Free Motion Inspiration

Do you ever get stuck thinking about what to quilt on the next quilt?  I especially find this to be true, when I am asked to do a custom quilt, and I'm not really wanting to use the computer for it. 

In my job, I teach a long arm quilting guild each month.  Sometimes coming up with another topic and keeping it fresh and interesting can be a challenge.  Last year, I had the idea to have an ongoing class and called it "Free Motion Frenzy".  Each month (except May & December), I shared at least two free motion designs.  The challenge was to make a small sampler, with all the design ideas, to hang on the wall in your quilting space.  Then, when it's time to quilt, you have 20+ designs at your fingertips, ready to inspire you.

This certainly isn't a new idea.  We've had Handi Quilter educators come to teach, and they have shared these samplers.  So, I used one as my example.  I did my framework using the Pro-Stitcher software, and then, I spent the year loading the quilt on the machine each month and doing my 2 or 3 designs.

I chose to do something else, too.  I played with threads.  I used black fabric so it would show the fun thread colors.  So, here it is.

It now hangs on my wall behind my long arm machine.  I now have ideas to help me when it's time to quilt and I'm not using my computer.  Plus, lots of fun with my threads.  Just a note...the spider web design was quilted with glow in the dark thread.  And it really does glow in the dark.  The best glowing is from the spaces that have more than one line of stitching. 

How about you?   How do you find a way to choose designs?

Keep on Sewing and Quilting!

To Do Tuesday

Okay, it's time to check on my To Do list from Last Tuesday.

1.  Order Swarovski crystals.  Nope.
2.  Finish Custom Quilt.  Yep!  (Hooray!)
3.  Three Blog Posts.  Yep!  (If you count Tuesday as #1).

Here is the custom quilt I was working on.

 Each parallelogram is made of two half-square triangles.  Each triangle is 12 inches.  So, I had to set up each triangle individually. 

 I changed  thread with each color of fabric.  The outer triangles have a double echo of the triangle, with pebbles inside.  The next row has continuous curves.  Then, the next row has waves, pearls and curves, with a single echo with lots of swirls on the inside star.

I would have loved to get a straight on shot, but my 6'4" quilt holder couldn't hold it up for me and keep it straight.   It's just too big.

I believe the customer was very happy.

Now for the goals for July 14-20
1.  Quilt as many customer quilts as possible.
2.  Order Swarovski crystals.
3.  Work on Summer Blossoms quilt.

Keep on Sewing and Quilting!

Coronavirus Coping Skills

I have been listening to podcasts and reading blogs.  Many have talked about coping skills while our world has been turned upside down.  I want to share what I have done to keep myself busy during this time.

As soon as I was told not to come to work, (which lasted 3 weeks), I saw it as a gift.  I was always saying I needed more time to quilt and sew.  Well, this gave me that time.  I made the comment that I liked my teflon calendar (nothing sticks).  I also know that I can be a great time-waster.  I also know that I like to make lists.  So, I changed up my list making.

Most of my life, I've made a list of things to get done.  I have liked checking them off.  This time, I changed it around.  I wanted to be able to remember what I was getting done, so I wrote a list at the end of the day of what I got done.  Genius!  It was just what I needed.  I was reporting to myself about my productivity! 

Some days were better than others.  Some days, I was just too tired to stay motivated, so I didn't get much done.  Other days, I was very productive. 

I kept another list, too.  I have a list of my Finishes for the Year.  Since March 16, I've had 26 finishes.  Some was just items needing binding.  Others, I completed the project from cutting to binding.  I also have been kept busy quilting for others.  It's a great thing to do...piecing quilts...when the world shuts down.

I try not to read too much news, but I know that our number of cases in the country is alarming many.  I do my part to wear a mask in public, and at work.  But, mostly I really like staying home, visiting with family, and quilting.  I expect that this winter might be more stay at home time as well, so I'm going to keep this good thing going.  For me, however, most of my life is back to normal.  All except church.  I'm still busy, and wanting more time to sew, of course 😀.

The one thing I liked about this reverse list making, is that sometimes a checklist is too confining.  Especially when it comes to creative endeavors.  However, the excitement of writing something accomplished made it very fun!

How about you?  Have you been able to keep yourself busy enough to be able to enjoy this time?

I'll just keep on sewing and quilting!

Sewing Group

Tuesday morning is Sewing Group.  We met again last Tuesday, June 30, for the first time since February.  This coronavirus turned our world upside down.  However, we decided we will get together again, just making sure that we are healthy and our families are healthy before gathering.

Kim has been working for several years on sewing hexagons together using English Paper Piecing.  Today she brought the finished quilt top!  We were so excited to see her progress!

Next she will quilt it.  I can't wait to see it finished, Kim!

This is what I worked on.  Kim led our Sew Small Quilt Guild in a mini mystery.  This is the finished quilt.  But, I am on an embellishment kick, so I had to glam it up.

Today I added crystals during our sewing group time.  It may not be visible in the photo, but I'm very pleased with the end result.

Keep on Sewing and Quilting!

To Do Tuesday

Hi again,

Today is my check-in to see how I did on my to-do list last week. 

1.  Post 3 blog entries.  I'm okay if I do more, but this is my minimum.  I get a partial credit on this.  I got 2 blog entries posted.  The 4th of July time with family was more important.

2.  Organize quilts under my frame.  I store quilts to be quilted under my Forte frame.  Right now it's a mess and not in quilting order.  So, I am going to get it back in order.  Done!

3.  Quilt 2 quilts that I have had since the end of February.  Both are queen sized, one is using an edge-to-edge design, and the other is custom.  The custom one has had me pondering what to do for 4 months.  I think I might be getting there, finally.  Partial credit.  The edge-to-edge was done fairly quickly.  The custom one is still on the frame, almost to the half-way point.  It will take me a fair part of the week to finish, but it will be finished!

So, here are some pictures:  This is of the top right corner of the custom quilt.  I used the Mark function on my Pro-stitcher to do the lines of the triangles, then filled with a bubble fill from Wasatch quilting.

Now, down a few rows.  The half-square triangles, that make up the parallelogram, are 12 inches.  I cannot fit 2 of them together in my throat space.  So, I used the same design in each triangle, matching them at the center seam.  It doesn't take long to quilt, but it does take time to place each design.

This was a finish for the week as well.  The employees at our local quilt shop did a block exchange for Christmas.  We each made an extra block, then I made them into a quilt for the store owner's wife.  She just recently (couple of years) started working at the store with us, and she is such a delightful person to work with.  So, we gave her the quilt on Monday. 

Now, a couple of shots of the fireworks we enjoyed on Friday, July 3rd.

Next week's goals (July 7-13):

1.  Order more swarovski crystals for a quilt I am embellishing.

2.  Finish the Custom quilt on my frame.

3.  3 blog entries.  I'm trying again.  

Linking to To Do Tuesday #48

Store Samples

Since I work at a local quilt shop, I get the opportunity to make store samples.  As the fabric comes in the store, we cut kits and then put it out on the sales floor.  One kit usually becomes a sample, because seeing the quilt, people want to make it.

Today I am sharing two store samples made in February.  The fabric, from Andover, came in and I chose to make these samples from it.

This one is a mini swoon.  I hadn't made a swoon block before, so I thought this one would be fun for a Valentine's theme.  I quilted it using a pattern called Ribbon curls e2e, at 5 inches high.  Because the quilt is only about 19 inches square, a small quilting pattern looks good.  I enjoy making minis, however, be aware they take as much work as a full size quilt, just in smaller proportions.

I belong to a mini guild (Sew Small Quilt Guild), so I love to be able to make a mini every once in a while for the store. 

Then I made Sea Anemone.  It took until March to finish.  I quilted it with Seafoam from Urban Elementz.  I love how it adds motion to the quilt.  To me, the quilting really makes the quilt sing.  I put Cuddle fabric on the back of this one, since it is my favorite backing for a quilt.

I frequently get asked about using batting with cuddle fabric.  I use it all the time with batting.  The time I tried to make a small quilt without it, the thread lay flat on the quilt.  I've also found that a really light weight polyester is not as warm as a combination of cotton and polyester.  I about freeze without the cotton/poly batting.  I still use it in the summer as well, except on the hottest nights in the middle of the summer.

I have more store samples to share another time.  Until then, Keep on Sewing!

Goals for the Week, July 1-6

I just saw a blog that sponsors goals for the week.  I saw it last night, too late to jump in, but I'll link up next week I think.  

However, I have decided to make some goals for the week.  I will lose some quilting time this week because of the holiday, but I still intend on getting some things done.

1.  Post 3 blog entries.  I'm okay if I do more, but this is my minimum.

2.  Organize quilts under my frame.  I store quilts to be quilted under my Forte frame.  Right now it's a mess and not in quilting order.  So, I am going to get it back in order.

3.  Quilt 2 quilts that I have had since the end of February.  Both are queen sized, one is using an edge-to-edge design, and the other is custom.  The custom one has had me pondering what to do for 4 months.  I think I might be getting there, finally.

During my quiet time, or time just sitting around with the family, I have two quilts that need the binding sewn down by hand.  These won't take very long, so I expect to share those in the coming weeks.

I also plan to Keep on Sewing!